WARNING: SPOILERS!
This is the story of Grisha Jaeger's youth. It is how I imagined it and does contain some of my own theories on the shifter village, the beast titan's identity, Grisha's past, etc. It is also my first fanfic, so sorry for my crappy writing :3 enjoy!
Grisha Jaeger was a small, serious, curious child. He was dark haired and constantly wore a look of deep interest in everything. He was not very sociable, and preferred to be by himself or with his older brother Yarrick rather than play with the other children in the Shifter Village. He was deeply intrigued by all that was inside and outside the village, and he was especially intrigued by the Shifters of his race that protected them from the "Numb" outside of their boundaries.
Most of the time the villagers stayed away from the boundaries and the Shifters when in their true forms. The limited group of Shifter families within the village where given the utmost respect of everyone else, and received most of the food they harvested from the farms. The Shifters patrolled the borders, switching patrols every three hours, which was the limit for the more experienced and well-practised members.
The village children were often told horrifying stories about the world outside, with stories of the terrible Numb Ones and exiled Shifters scaring the village children away from ever going near the boundary clearings.
Grisha, however, was immune to these stories and their effects, and searched always for more information about the enlightened Shifters. He had never seen a Numb One or a Shifter in their true form before, so naturally, he was curious.
But Grisha was soon to learn just how dangerous curiosity can be, and how too much of it can lead you down a treacherous path.
The day the accident happened was one sunny summer afternoon. Grisha was indescribably bored, and with nothing to do, was sitting on the porch of the Jaeger family house. His mother was inside preparing the nights dinner by plucking birds, and his father had gone out to barter at the market for cattle. Yarrick was chopping firewood outside, and Grisha watched him from the porch steps, chewing on a piece of straw.
Yarrick looked over at him, his blonde hair slicked with sweat from lifting the heavy axe that he held by his side.
"Y'know, Grisha, instead of sitting idly chewing straw, you could actually get of your butt and come and help me… c'mere, have a go."
Grisha scowled and turned away, answering quietly.
"Stop teasing me. You know I'm not strong enough to lift an axe yet, let alone chop wood with one."
"Aww, c'mon Grish, y'know I'm just playing. Dontcha know how to take a joke?" Yarrick grinned widely, his white teeth gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. He put down the axe and went over and sat beside Grisha.
Yarrick knew Grisha hated being the youngest in the family, and he also knew how envious Grisha was of him. He was four years older than Grisha, who was only twelve. Yarrick was treated like a man by everyone else, and Grisha was treated like a child. Grisha had always been the quietly rebellious one, and hated being ignored by everyone else.
Grisha's amber eyes looked up at Yarrick, and they gave away his anger. He stood up, a look of frustration in his eyes. He turned to look at Yarrick. He wore a determined expression on his face, and smiled down at Yarrick.
"I'm bored."
Yarrick looked at him questioningly.
"What?'
Grisha stood up. He began to stride quickly toward the other end of the garden, which faced the forest and the boundary line.
"What are you doing, Grisha?" Yarrick asked nervously. "You know we aren't allowed into the forest. The boundary line's out there…"
"Yeah, and I'm going to cross it. " answered Grisha, without turning round, as he neared the edge of the garden and the start of the tree
"W-what the hell Grish, you're not serious, are you? That's mental. You're going to get eaten!" Yarrick got to his feet, worry all over his face.
Grisha ignored him, and broke into a sprint. He was heading straight for the trees, running as fast as he could.
"Grisha!"
Yarrick stumbled, and reached for the axe. He ran, trying to catch up with Grisha, who had disappeared into the trees.
"GRISHA! COME BACK!" he screamed, as he ran away from the sunny garden and into the dark, hungry forest.
